Indianapolis family begs hit and run driver to surrender to police

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 29, 2015) -- The family of a woman severely injured by a hit and run driver is hoping police find that person. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) says Tanya Turman, 41, was hit as she walked to a northeast side IndyGo bus stop Thursday morning. Turman's family says she is on a ventilator and has been sedated because of the pain she is in. They also say she's already had two surgeries and needs two more.

"I'm just begging. If it was an accident, just come forth and things will be a lot better than us having to hunt you down," said Latisha Croom, Tanya Turman's sister.

IMPD detectives think Turman was hit by a 1992-1999 red GMC Yukon or Chevy Tahoe with grey trim. She had just left her apartment and was walking to a bus stop at Bolton Avenue and Staughton Drive when she was struck.

"I just feel like you have a moral and a legal obligation to pull over and just not leave her for dead like she's a dead animal on the side of the street," Croom said.

Family members say Turman is hearing impaired, has limited vision and can't talk. Croom relied on her sign language education to communicate with Turman, but now she can't even do that since doctors sedated Turman due to the pain.

"I don't see how somebody would do something like that," said Clara Smith-Craddock.

Smith-Craddock says she's thankful there were enough people to come to Turman's aid.

"Her mother said if they hadn't gotten to her in time she would have passed. I mean that is just awful to me," Smith-Craddock said.

If you know anything about this, you are strongly urged either to call IMPD or be anonymous and call Central Indiana Crime Stoppers. You can be paid if you submit a tip that leads to an arrest. You can contact the IMPD Crash Investigations Section, Hit & Run Investigations at (317) 327-6549. Central Indiana Crime Stoppers can be reached at (317) 262-TIPS (8477).